The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Pangasinan on Monday warned the public against fraudulent individuals posing as the agency's personnel targeting micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in the province. At a forum hosted by the Philippine Information Agency-Pangasinan, DTI provincial director Natalia Dalaten said they have received two reports from MSMEs on Sept.16 about attempts to scam companies. 'We have received reports that there were those going around pretending to be staff from DTI offering loans and soliciting money. Wala po kaming staff na nagso-solicit ng anumang amount para sa aming mga programa (We have no staff soliciting any amount of money for our programs),' she said. Dalaten said the fraudulent scheme is targeting MSMEs, offering them loans and then soliciting money from them, for a minimum amount of PHP5,000, as part of an advertisement or sponsorship of an event. 'Una, they would act na kilalang-kilala nila ang businessmen at sinasabing taga-DTI sila at mag-o-offer ng loan at magso-solicit sa isang event na pwedeng ipa-sponsor (First, they would act as though they know the businessmen very well and they would present themselves as from DTI and then they would offer loans and solicit money for an alleged sponsored event),' she said. She noted that DTI-Pangasinan has no programs asking for sponsors and gathering advertisements. The DTI said it has coordinated with the Pangasinan Provincial Police Office to check the reported scheme. It said the two MSMEs did not fall for the scammers and instead, immediately reported the incident to authorities. Dalaten also asked the public to immediately alert authorities if they encounter such individuals or groups
Source: Philippines News Agency